Daily Prompt: Back On The Chain Gang

Posted in Challenges by angloswiss

We all have jobs, tasks, and chores that we dislike doing. Tell us all about the least favorite job/task/chore that you get stuck doing routinely. What is it about this duty that you can’t stand?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us DUTY.

Dyson

Part of my vacuum cleaner (a Dyson): one of the objects that still enslave me in my daily life.

When you arrive at a certain age, there are no tasks that you dare to dislike doing. There are no daily routines, only the ones you want, and there are no bosses, no work patterns, to ruin your idea of a good life. So, why we do still do these things like cleaning bathrooms, showers, kitchens and keeping everything in order. The simple answer “Because they are there”. The same reason we climbed Mount Everest or flew to the moon.

I could make a list of things I do routinely but I do not have any favourite jobs or tasks, I hate them all. Since no longer being a member of the working population, I just like to keep things looking OK. I do not have to rise in the morning and go to a distant place called work. That is behind me. Oh rejoice and sing hallelujahs, but what comes afterwards? Waiting for the Grim Reaper to take you to the eternal Chain Gang Hunting Grounds.

I am probably a fool that I still do things that I might not have to do, but a little order in life has to be. You cannot leave things behind you in a mess. I often wonder how the Facebook addicts fit in their daily cleaning routine, or perhaps they have the ultimate solution. They just clean the computer, everything else is unimportant. This week I had a warning: not that the bloke arrived dressed in black with a vacant place in the shadows of his hood carrying a scythe to reap my soul, if I have one.

I was cleaning the toilet yesterday morning – it has to be done. It could have been the feline’s tray, which would have been more possible for it to happen, but. no, it was a toilet bowl complete with seat, a modern construction, we all have one. This is a regular morning job. Of course I clean it regularly. It could be that the neighbour drops in and wants to go to the toilet, or the local vicar, or anyone and you have to keep up appearances. Imagine the rumours in the village when they hear that Mrs. Angloswiss does not clean her toilet.

I am digressing. Ok, so there I was poised with the toilet brush and ready to eradicate any germs, bacteria, and other threatening wild life to the human body and then it happened: just a little bend in the body in the wrong direction. There was a curious “never to have felt before” pain in the joint combing my leg with the hip. Since this memorable occasion I have difficulty in bending. If something falls down I take a deep breath, sink to my knees in slow motion, bite on my tongue and pick it up. It has become a painful movement. Sitting has also become a chore that sends a warning pain along my leg. Once I am down it is OK, the next problem is standing. This happened yesterday morning. Thank goodness my Dyson vacuum cleaner can be used in a standing position.

Sleeping became almost an action of impossibility. I was under the impression it could only get better, but every time I turned in bed I was reminded that I had a (left) leg that was somewhat unstable in the top joint. I am not really a tablet person, although I have an emergency supply of the necessary drugs. I was poised to swallow one of these tablets but on the other hand, did not want to swallow a second one when the effect of the first tablet was no longer working. I had visions of becoming addicted. Now and again I took a quick look in the dark bedroom to see if that Reaper Bloke was standing in the shadows, but I did not see him. I suppose I would not see him, the bedroom being dark. After spending an almost sleepless night from 3.00 a.m. until 6.00 a.m. the pain was reduced and I discovered I could move without being reminded that I should not have moved in this strange way when cleaning the toilet.

I did not actually leap out of bed with joy the next morning. It was a movement in slow motion, but I realised my programme of things I do could continue, perhaps not as quick as usual. So here I am typing my daily prompt, and sitting on a chair. I survivied and that is the main thing. And the answer to the question “Tell us all about the least favorite job/task/chore that you get stuck doing routinely”, would be “everything, especially if it means moving the hip”.

Daily Prompt: Back On The Chain Gang

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31 thoughts on “Daily Prompt: Back On The Chain Gang”

suesconsideredtrifles

01/03/2014 at 17:55

I’m glad your pain was one of the (relatively) short-lived variety! I find all sorts of little things go wrong, when I try to do jobs around the house. Sue

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:07
  
  I am just accident prone
  
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Frances D

01/03/2014 at 18:05

With me it’s anything that involves my cranky left knee. Sending healing vibes your way.

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:08
  
  Thanks
  
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Maggie Wilson

01/03/2014 at 18:05

Eek! Nothing quite like those joint twinges that knock you off your feet. I hope your recovery is speedy and complete. BTW, toilets are hubby’s job in our household. I cannot STAND the task. Before I sign off – what is the gizmo in your photo?

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:17
  
  The gizmo is part of my vacuum cleaner, known as Dyson.
  
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ranu802

01/03/2014 at 18:30

nice post.

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Marilyn Armstrong

01/03/2014 at 18:38

You have said it so well I feel there’s nothing I can add. Except that for me, it’s cooking. I have been cooking for husbands, friends and family for half a century and if I never cook another meal, that would be FINE. Pity I do it so well. If I was as terrible a cook as my mother was, no one would want me in the kitchen.

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:09
  
  Your mum and mine must have visited the same cookery school.
  
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  - Marilyn Armstrong
    
    01/03/2014 at 21:05
    
    I think they were just really smart. NO ONE demands the services of a really BAD cook. Our mistake was getting good at it.
    
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    - angloswiss
      
      01/03/2014 at 21:06
      
      LOL, that must be it
      
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Sammy D.

01/03/2014 at 18:46

Yup – one wrong move… sorry you are hurting. My slip on ice a few years back has given me a nag in my hip to go with the one in my knee and the one in my shoulder. Active lives bring injuries that bring naggings. But I am thankful; they mean I’m alive! (Loved the part about the Vicar arriving and unclean toilet. Sort of like getting in an accident with dirty underwear!)

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:11
  
  At least your injuries seem to be balanced. I managed to break my left arm twice, once the top half and then the bottom half, so it is well balanced. Even the seam looks nice. Somehow I think we learn to live with our knocks.
  
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Martha Kennedy

01/03/2014 at 20:18

Be careful with that joint. 😦 I have a Dyson, too, but it doesn’t have pretty red and silver parts. I’d be envious if such a thing were possible over a vacuum cleaner.

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- angloswiss
  
  01/03/2014 at 20:29
  
  We got our Dyson just a couple of months ago and they come in all sorts of colours. I am quite satisfied with it although it is a bit of a noisy monster
  
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  - Martha Kennedy
    
    01/03/2014 at 20:52
    
    I love mine — as much as one can love a vacuum cleaner! Mine’s purple and gray and not new, but it works so well.
    
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    - angloswiss
      
      01/03/2014 at 21:09
      
      Mr. Swiss says it is not so practical to empty it. He thinks he will get silicosis from the dust. I just put a plastic bag over it and shake it out – no problem, or have you a better suggestion perhaps. I am still exploring the possibilities.
      
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      - Martha Kennedy
        
        01/03/2014 at 21:13
        
        I do the plastic bag thing, too. I like that I can wash most of the parts whenever it stops sucking efficiently. One could wear a mask, I guess.
        
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Phelios Cyros

02/03/2014 at 15:07

I felt like a young soul in a body that get old too early. I have a permanent back pain that will never go away. But who am I to complain compared to you that has to suffer it in your age.

And I’m really glad to get some insights of death from you even just a little.

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